Climate change adaptation and the Australian urban water industry

The purpose of this document is to highlight the impacts the Australian urban water industry are facing due to climate change and how the industry has adapted. It considers 'natural disasters' such as floods, droughts and bushfires, as well as changes to the average and extremes in temperatures and rainfall, sea level rise, and the risks to: (i) built and social environment, including urban planning, community well-being and economic considerations; (ii) biophysical environment, including health impacts; and (iii) infrastructure. Furthermore this report identifies how the urban water industry could be doing it better and sets out a list of priority actions (as well as enabling actions) to ensure it does respond adequately to meet regulator and customer needs.